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CHURCH.TXT
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1989-10-04
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DOCTRINE: OVERVIEW OF LOCAL CHURCH OPERATIONS
Doctrine: Philosophy of Ministry, What and Why?
1. God's Purpose for the Church: is to have believers in Jesus
Christ represent Him in the world by 1) Witnessing about Jesus Christ
to the nonbeliever, and 2) Learning Bible doctrine for application
(Gen 1.26; Ps 8; Matt 5.13-16,48; 28.19-20; Eph 3.10; 5.1; Col 1.9-10;
1 Tim 2.4; 1 Pet 2.9, 4.11).
2. God's Plan for the Church: is to carry out His purpose by
equipping believers so they will do ministry and grow. We want this
church to increase in numbers and for its members to come to spiritual
maturity. Therefore we 1) Learn the Word of God, 2) Apply the Word of
God, and 3) Grow (1 Cor 14.12; Eph 4.11-16; Col 1.9-12; 2 Tim 3.14-17;
Jms 1.21-25).
3. God's organization for the local Church has provided specific
roles for the pastor/teacher and the congregation: The
pastor/teacher's role is to authoritatively lead and teach the
congregation. The congregation's role is to willingly recognize and
support that ministry, and to learn The Word of God, apply the Word of
God, and to grow spiritually. Believers then minister to the other
believers in the church and witness to nonbelievers about Jesus Christ
(Acts 1.8; 19;8-10,20; 20.17,28; Rom 12.1-2; 2 Cor 9.12-14; Eph
4.11-16; Phil 1.4-11, 25-28; Philemon 5-6; 1 Pet 4.10-11; 1 Pet
5.1-3).
Doctrine: Local Church
1. Description: The local church is group of believers who regularly
meet together under the authority of a pastor/teacher so that the
pastor/teacher may equip them by teaching them the Bible so that that
they may function as a church body or team and fulfill God's ministry
on earth.
2. Characteristics:
2.1. The local church is made up of believers in Jesus Christ,
formed into His body on earth, under the headship, authority, and
direction of Jesus Christ and under the delegated authority of the
pastor/teacher (1 Cor 12.27; Eph 1.22-23; Col 1.18; Heb 13.17; 1 Pet
5.1-4).
2.2. The local church is a particular group of believers (Rom 16.5;
1 Cor 14.34; Col 4.15) within the geographical church (all believers
in a geographical area, 1 Cor 1.2; 1 Thes 1.1) and the universal
church (all believers, Eph 1.22-23).
2.3. The believers are to assemble together in an orderly group
(Rom 16.5; 1 Cor 14.40; Col 4.15; Philemon 2; Heb 10.25).
2.4. A bond, togetherness, camaraderie, unity will develop among
them as they mature (Rom 12.10; 16.4, 16, 23; 1 Cor 12.20-27; Eph
4.3).
2.5. The church is called a body with all members necessary,
valuable, and ministering for God and the benefit of the church. It
functions as a team (Rom 12.4-17; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4.11-16; 1 Pet
4.10-11).
2.6. A growing local church will develop a working unity in
salvation, doctrine, and ministry (Eph 4.3-6; Phil 1.27; 2.2-3; Jude
3).
3. Purpose:
3.1. The main purpose that the local church meets together as a
group is for the communication of the Word of God by gifted men
(primarily the pastor/teacher) to the assembled believers for the
equipping of the saints (1 Cor 12.28-31; 1 Cor 14; Eph 4.11-16; 2 Tim
4.2-3).
3.2. The task for the church in the world is to faithfully
represent God through a balanced ministry of evangelism in the world
and edification in the church (Matt 28.19-20).
3.3. The church has two rituals to observe. They are water baptism
and the Lord's supper (Matt 28.19; Acts 2.41; 1 Cor 1.14-16; 1 Cor
11.20-28).
4. Authority and organization:
4.1. God has appointed the pastor/teacher, elder, overseer (all
words refer to the same individual) to authoritatively teach, lead,
and protect the believers in one local church (Acts 20.17, 28; Eph
4.11-16; 1 Tim 3.1, 5; 2 Tim 4.2; Heb 13.17; 1 Pet 5.1-4).
4.2. The deacons (servants of God, the pastor/teacher, and the
church) are a team of servants in the local church (Phil 1.1; 1 Tim
3.8-10).
5. Ministry among believers:
5.1. Each believer has a spiritual gift which is a special ability
from God to serve God and the church (1 Cor 12.4-7; Rom 12.6-8; Eph
4.11; 1 Pet 4.10).
5.2. The local church ought to have a consistent prayer life (Acts
2.42; Rom 12.12; 15.30; Eph 6.18; 1 Thes 5.17).
5.3. The local church has the opportunity to freely give material
wealth for the physical support of the local church (1 Cor 16.1; 2 Cor
8.1-15; 9.1-13; Gal 6.6; Phil 4.15; 1 Tim 5.17-18).
5.4. The church has the opportunity to assist those believers who
are in need (Gal 6.10; Eph 4.28; 1 Tim 5.16; 1 Jn 3.17-18).
5.5. The church should have a genuine interest for each other and
at the same time refrain from interference in the life of any person
in the church. The church should be free from any judging,
criticizing, or gossiping about other members (Rom 12.13; Gal 6.2, 6,
10; 1 Thes 5.15; 1 Pet 4.15; 1 Jn 3.16-17; Matt 7.1-2; Jn 21.21-22;
Rom 14.1-13; 1 Cor 4.1-7; Col 3.17, 23; 2 Thes 3.11; 1 Tim 5.13; Jms
4.11-12; 1 Pet 2.1; 4.15).
Doctrine: Pastor/Teacher
1. Description: The pastor/teacher is the man gifted by God to
prepare or equip believers for ministry and the edification of the
church. The general profile indicates that he is to authoritatively
teach the Word of God for application, lead, and protect the local
church body. This will result in believers that are able to minister
and participate in the build up of the body of Christ and therefore
represent God on earth (Eph 4.11-14; Titus 2.15; 1 Pet 4.11-12).
2. Titles:
2.1. The title "pastor/teacher" (poim8n kai didaskalos) is the
working title for the man God gifts to teach, lead, and protect the
believers with a particular congregation. Pastor emphasizes
leadership, care for, protection, support, correction. Teacher
emphasizes communication, instruction of the Word of God.
Pastor/teacher emphasizes the spiritual gifts and ministries that
result from the gifts. The pastor/teacher is also the overseer and
elder (Eph 4.11; Acts 20.17 and 28).
2.2. The title "overseer" (episkopos, guardian, superintendent) is
an official title emphasizing the supervisory activity (1 Tim 3.2;
Titus 1.7).
2.3. The title "elder" (presbuteros, elder, older man) is an
official title emphasizing the rank. Both refer to the pastor/teacher
as the leader and both carry authority (1 Tim 5.17; Titus 1.5; 1 Pet
5.1-4).
3. The pastor/teacher seems to be multi-gifted in order to perform
God's function. The gifts most apparent are teaching, leadership, and
administration (Acts 20.28; Eph 4.11-12).
4. Authority:
4.1. The pastor/teacher is God's human authority in the local
church. This authority has been delegated from God through the Holy
Spirit and the Bible ( Eph 4.11-16; Acts 20.17-28; 1 Pet 5.1-4;
1 Tim 5.17; Heb 13.17).
4.2. The pastor/teacher must be a servant and must not abuse his
authority (Matt 20.25-28; Jn 13.15-17; 1 Pet 5.3). He is like both a
full general and a player coach.
5. The qualities of the overseer (pastor/teacher) are seen in 1 Tim
3.2-7, Titus 1.5-9, and 1 Pet 5.1-3. The standard is high, but it
does not indicate that spiritual leaders are more holy than anyone
else. All possess sin natures, all have weaknesses, and all fail.
6. Priorities of the pastor/teacher:
6.1. The pastor/teacher must please the Lord, not people. It is his
job to equip his congregation (Gal 1.10; 1 Thes 2.4-6; Titus 2.15)
6.2. The practice of the pastor/teacher is to study the Bible from
the original languages if possible and communicate the content for
application, to lead and direct the church, and to protect the
congregation from bad doctrine and disruptive influences in the church
(Acts 20.28-31; Eph 4.11-12; Phil 1.25; 2 Tim 2.15; 4.2).
Doctrine: Deacon
1. Description: A deacon is a man that functions as an honored
servant of God, the pastor/teacher, and the church. He is the person
who, under authority of the pastor/teacher willingly serves the church
body by actively carrying out needed tasks for the benefit of the
church. Deacons are leader servants for the effective performance of
service.
2. Scripture which speaks of deacons:
2.1. Phil 1.1 lists deacons and the elders (overseers,
pastor/teachers) as officials of the church.
2.2. 1 Tim 3.10-13 gives qualities of deacons. The standard is
high, but it does not indicate that they are more holy than anyone
else. All possess sin natures, all have weaknesses, and all fail. In
this same context deacons are under the authority of the elder
(pastor/teacher) and serve him and the local church.
2.3. Acts 6 illustrates the type of serving, but the men do not
seem to be actual deacons.
3. The title "deacon" is a transliteration (diakonos). It means a
servant, a helper. Cremer (177) says it refers "to the service or
advantage rendered to another." Trench (32) says it "represents the
servant in his activity for the work." Foerster (TDNT 2.81) writes
that the verb "has the special quality of indicating very personally
the service rendered to another...there is a stronger approximation to
the concept of a service of love."
4. Authority: The deacon is under the authority of the
pastor/teacher. The deacon is not an authoritative person, but
authority may be delegated to him. He is set off from the body by his
serviceableness.
5. All the spiritual gifts can be useful for deacons. The most
appropriate and useful gifts are service (Rom 12.7), administration (1
Cor 12.28), and leadership (Rom 12.8).
6. The selection of deacons is not specifically explained. By
comparing the doctrine of pastor/teacher, the basic meaning of the
"servant" word group, and 1 Tim 3 it seems that the pastor ought to
appoint them. The length of service is not stated.
7. Practical requirements to serve well as a deacon include
consistent spiritual growth, authority orientation, humility,
teachability, and loyalty to the pastor/teacher and philosophy of
ministry of that local church.
Copyright 1987 by Tod M. Kennedy
You are allowed to reproduce this article only in its entirety and
without additions or deletions.